NCOPD- Non-Commisioned Officer Professional Development

As I had stated in previous notes, I believe that the Army’s level of professionalism is in the bottom part of the trough on the graph for “The Band of Excellence”. I am not bringing this up to bitch or whine but rather to give us a starting point so that we may improve.

Once again let me tell you a story of the days of yesteryear when i was a young PVT. One day I believe it was in February on Elmendorf AFB at the “Riggers Shed”, we were already rigged up waiting on weather to go do yet another jump on Malamute Drop Zone. Unfortunately i cannot remember which regime it was under (SFC Wxxxxxxxx, SSG Sxxxxx) or (SSG “Vader” Rxxx, and SSG Wxxxx), Nor can i remember which General it was ( I believe it was BG White the Fort Richardson Commander). However, Back then the 6th ID had a standing SOP that anyone of any rank could make an on the Spot correction towards anyone else of any rank ( later i learned this is called General Military authority).

The BG stopped across the bench from me to talk to our BN Commander, and I noticed that his cargo pocket was unbuttoned and flopping in the wind. Now with as many Push-ups as I had done for this infraction, i was not going to just let it go. So I spit my tobacco juice ( smoking in the silk parachute is illegal) from my big tobacco stuffed mouth and said.. “Excuse me sir.” And started to try to stand up. to which he told me to keep my seat. “Sir, IAW AR 670-1, and the 1-501st SOP, you are currently out of uniform. Your left Cargo pocket is unbuttoned.”

Now I think my BN Commander almost passed out. and the CSM got kind of red in the face. However, the General said ” Well, thanks son.. but that’s where I park my gloves.. now do you know about the tobacco cessation programs I have been trying to push?” I responded with ” Yes sir”.

“Well son, you now that tobacco is going to kill you?”.. I said ” No sir, this tobacco is going to make me a sexual tyrannosaurus”…

Now as my memory serves me the entire rigger shed fell out.. Lord Knows I never heard the end of that story… Even when i saw my good buddy Lee Bedrycki some years later he brought that story up again. However, as far as actual admonishment due to almost sending the CSM to the hospital for a heart-a-stroke and the Commander passing out from embarrassment, I never once actually got even a stern talking to for that. BECAUSE.. Back then even the senior NCO’s recognized the value of properly applied “On the Spot Corrections”. BG White did not do the required 10 push-ups.. however, he did correct the Deficiency.

Now fast forward to present day. I have seen a couple different ways that the “GMA” is abused or forgotten. Time and time again. Where NCO’s will no longer confront Soldiers either on post, or off when in uniform even for minor uniform infractions. To these NCO’s that Soldier who is off post in the mall in uniform at 1930 searching for club clothes at “Club fashion” store is not their problem, and not to be concerned with. Just today in fact I went to the Local Taco Hell for lunch, and the dining area was chock full of Senior/Junior NCO’s, Officers, and various Junior enlisted, to include one Caucasian SPC with a full on 4 day growth on his face. I sat there and watched around the room and not one person of any rank went to go check if he was legit. after receiving my food i took the Soldier aside and found he was legit, but, my issue was no longer that Soldier but the fact that no one in that restaurant where this Soldier was representing me and my Brother’s(and sister’s) in Arms, even could be bothered to go ask him about it.

The other side of the token is.. I have seen the “Screamer SGT’s”… You know.. the NCO that over hears one SPC talking to another asking each other why something was going the way it was, and that NCO flipped out yelling and screaming. Now maybe i am just weird.. however.. I prefer to using my yelling and screaming and spitting and foaming for the actually important things so that the yelling and screaming still bears some weight. (this of course does not include my Drill Sergeant time). It has been my experience that the NCO that yells and screams and throw’s shit around at the slightest provocation.. loses respect the fastest. In fact.. Not only does the NCO lose the respect of the Soldier, But the Soldier will refuse to actually learn anything from the experience because typically they tune your “frequency” out.

The other day I was walking through the hangar, and two of my Soldier were walking behind me. They walked past the latrine which had an “off limits sign” but there was nothing to indicate why. So one SPC turned to the other and said “Why the fuck is the latrine off limits?”. The Staff Sergeant who posted the sign heard them and jumped their ass.. “BECAUSE I PUT IT THERE SPC.. YOU GOT A PROBLEM WITH THAT?… CUZ IF YOU DO YOU CAN COME SEE ME IN MY OFFICE!!” in my humble opinion this is not the correct way to inform a soldier as to a legit question they had so… My “Magic Pumpkin Patch” started glowing, and I turned and started yelling at the SSG.

“WTF IS YOUR PROBLEM SGT… ARE YOU A RETARD?.. HOW DO YOU LIKE IT WHEN YOUR GETTING AN ON THE SPOT CORRECTION GETTING IMMEDIATELY YELLED AT?!?!?!!?!”.. (after taking a breathe and returning to normal volume). ” Now SSG. if i need something from you tomorrow.. and I come to your office to try and get it.. could i reasonably expect good customer service from you?.. or will i just get the bare minimums? Because to be honest.. If i was yelled at by a 1SG the way I just yelled at you, and he came to me tomorrow needing something.. 1st, I would do only exactly what would be required of me to get the job done, and 2nd, tonight when i go home and I am drinking beer with my battle buddies, i would be talking about what kind of weenie that 1SG was. That being said.. what do you think my SPC’s are going to do tonight when they go home and drink beer?… and then all those SPC will lose respect for your professionalism. Instead of screaming… try teaching”

This is not to say there is no place in the Army for Yelling and Screaming, and making Soldiers do Push-ups. But if you use it for every “mess-up” The effectiveness of this teaching method reduces exponentially..

In closing ( as my lunch break is almost over).. Encourage your Jr. Soldiers to make on the Spot Corrections.. even when you are wrong. As long as they are using tact, accept the on the spot correction instead of trying to bully your way out of it using your rank.. Remember, as an NCO you are the “father” figure for the future leaders of our Army. And the way you teach and mentor will have a lasting impact, and if your good.. your theories on leadership will continue to get passed on from generation to generation. Good luck SGT’s… Its time to leave your footprint on the history of the US Army.